Dear Friends:
“Teach me your way, O LORD” – Psalm 86:11
I can hardly believe it myself. I am 86 today.
I would like to thank God especially for two things: first, John Paul Jackson’s word to me some eighteen years ago. At dinner he put his knife and fork down and surprisingly said: “R. T., you will live to a ripe old age, but if you don’t get in shape physically you won’t be around to enjoy it”. I was 68.
That shook me rigid. Because of his faithful and very accurate prophetic words to me in the past, I took them seriously. T. R. bought me a book The Abs Diet which changed my eating habits. Steve Strang my beloved publisher gave me a series of daily exercises. “Stronger with Strang” became a motto! I hired a trainer. I still get weighed every day; do 21 push-ups daily (not Olympic standards but pretty good for an old man) to this very day. I still travel the world, write books and do all I did twenty years ago. I give God the praise.
Second, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones felt that the KJV translation “bodily exercise profiteth little” (1 Tim.4:8) is sadly a bit misleading, possibly underestimating the need for exercise. He felt that Paul meant that physical exercise was only “little in comparison to godliness”. But that physical exercise is very important indeed!
Now to Psalm 86:11: “Teach me your way, O LORD”. I read Psalm 84 every day from my 84th birthday; Psalm 85 for the last twelve months daily. I will read Psalm 86 daily for the next twelve months, focusing on verse 11. I so want to know more of God’s “ways”. God swore in wrath regarding Israel because they did not know “my ways” (Heb.3:10). More than anything else Moses wanted to be taught God’s “ways” (Exod.33:13).
I shall continue to get weighed daily, watch my weight and do exercises including push-ups. But most of all I want to know God’s ways in ever-increasing measure. Godliness is most important!
Thank you for your prayers.
Much love to you all.
R T – Romans 8:28.